Poker Keeps New Mexico Man Out Of Jail

A former stockbroker from New Mexico, who was convicted of scamming over 20 people, will be allowed to try to pay off his debts by competing in poker tournaments around the country.
After admitting to 26 felony charges of securities fraud, the man owes close to $500,000 to his victims and has accepted a delayed sentencing deal. Over the next six months, he will need to make restitution payments of $7,500 a month to prove that he has the ability to pay back his victims through his poker earnings. If he misses two payments, he will go back to court for immediate sentencing, where he will face up to 12 years in prison.
According to the lawyer for the convicted felon, poker is his only source of income. However, information has surfaced that indicates the man has only won two jackpots worth more than $7,500 since 2003, so his time out of jail might be very short.

Another Las Vegas Blackjack Miracle

In the July 20 issue of Blackjack Champ News, Michael Frank writes about how a Las Vegas blackjack player, who goes only by the name of RobinHood702, continues to use his or her winnings to help out those in need.
The champ’s most recent recipients? Jeff Martinez and his family. Although Martinez and his wife both work full time, they have been unable to keep up with many of their monthly payments because Martinez is fighting both colon and liver cancer.
Last month, that all changed. RobinHood 702 knocked on their door and told them: “We’re going to make a miracle happen for you and your family.” The blackjack champ then proceeded to offer to pay the Martinez family’s rent for the next year and to provide them with a leased car for the next two years.
“I never imagined someone could do this for us,” Jeff is reported as saying. “It’s going to help me heal and you know what? He’s going to be the first person I call when I can finally say, ‘I’m cured of cancer.’ Thanks to RobinHood, I’m on top of the world.”

Blackjack Dealer Nominated For California Chief Justice

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has nominated Filipina-American Tani Cantil-Sakauye as the Chief Justice of the state’s high court. If elected, she would be the court’s first trained blackjack dealer. When she was a college student, Cantil-Sakauye received training as a blackjack dealer and worked at Harrah’s Casino in Lake Tahoe during summers and on weekends. She used the money she earned to help pay her way through law school. Following graduation, she spent a short time at the tables dealing blackjack in Reno. That was decades ago, as she later began a long career with the California legal system. Cantil-Sakauye’s command of blackjack rules and strategy might help her fight for justice. After all, MIT blackjack legend Jeff Ma attributes much of his success in the business world to his knowledge of blackjack.

Winner Denied Prize

Weather-Watch.com’s forum reported that a man from New Zealand recently won $60,000 dollars playing poker at an Auckland casino. However, he was refused the jackpot because he had banned himself from the premises in 2004 for gambling too much. The winner said he thought the ban had expired, but casino staff reminded him that he had agreed to undergo counseling before he could be readmitted and had not done so. The case will now go before New Zealand gambling authorities for resolution.

Nevada Casino Auctions Unique Gold Collection

Get out your checkbook for a chance to own “The World’s Rarest Gold Collection.” The Carson Nugget Casino in Carson City is taking bids on more than 170 specimens of gold, in both nugget and crystalline form. The minimum bid for this collection, which is valued at up to $5 million, is $1.1 million and bids will be accepted until September 14. After being on public display in the casino since the mid-1950’s, the timing of the sale couldn’t be better, as gold prices are currently at near record levels due to high demand. Following the collection’s initial public display, strong interest in the collection continued for decades. Recently, however, the casino reports a lack of interest on the part of the public in exhibit and, therefore, it has decided to sell its collection.

Blackjack For Kurt Busch Foundation

Chicagoland Speedway reported that the Speedway and Miller Lite recently teamed up and hosted a Blackjack Tournament at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in Joliet, Illinois to raise money for the Kurt Busch Foundation. Over $3,000 was raised at the event, which was coupled with proceeds from a silent auction of concert and race tickets and autographed merchandise. Among the players were Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, Greg Olsen of the Chicago Bears football team, and Speedway President Craig Rust.

Detroit To Re-Use Casino For Police Headquarters

The Detroit City Council approved the purchase of the former MGM casino for a new Detroit Police and Detroit Fire Department headquarters. The headquarters will also house a state crime lab, which will be operated by Michigan State Police. Bonds will be sold to renovate the former casino.

New Jersey Governor Proposes State Takeover Of Atlantic City Casino District

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey proposed a state takeover of the famous Atlantic City casino district. He cited the city government’s long history of corruption, failure to deal with blight, and a steady decline in casino revenues and jobs. The governor also called for the state to get out of the horse racing business, which is part of an attempt to overhaul New Jersey’s gaming, sports, and entertainment industries. “We’ve allowed this to go on for too long,” the governor said of the resort’s problems. In addition, Christie also proposed closing or selling the state-owned Meadowlands Racetrack and providing state financial aid to finish the stalled Xanadu shopping-entertainment complex in the Meadowlands.